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Toughened Or Laminated Window Glass For Pilot House

Discussion in 'Technical Discussion' started by david_japp, Mar 26, 2011.

  1. david_japp, Mar 26, 2011
    #1
    david_japp

    david_japp Senior Member

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    Does anyone have any thoughts about what type of glass to fit in the Pilot House windows of my 60ft vintage Feadship motoryacht Alto (pka Tiky) built 1961 and now being rebuilt on East Coast of England. ...ie should I fit Toughened, or Laminated or Toughened Laminated?

    I also need to replace some of the broken saloon windows which I believe currently have laminated glass fitted . The boat will be used as a family cruiser in the Mediterranean
  2. AMG, Mar 26, 2011
    #2
    AMG

    AMG YF Moderator

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    I think laminated with chemical toughening is the best. It can be both tinted and fitted with heating in the lamination.
  3. bernd1972, Mar 26, 2011
    #3
    bernd1972

    bernd1972 Senior Member

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    David, I believe the toughened laminated safety glass ist the adequate choice at least for the forward windows. As far as I know there have to be some standard safety glass windows and emergency hammers in areas without deck access and a certain distance to the next deck exit. That obviously applies to small commerial passenger vessels only.
  4. david_japp, Mar 27, 2011
    #4
    david_japp

    david_japp Senior Member

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    laminated safety glass - toughened or not?

    thanks - that seems to be the logical answer ..ie toughened safety laminated glass in forward windows and at least have safety glass that is laminated in other windows..ie all glass would be laminated even if it is not toughened ...but strangely that is not what the MCA surveyor is saying and he says all that minimum requirement is that all the glass should be toughened...ie there is no requirement for any glass to be laminated
  5. AMG, Mar 27, 2011
    #5
    AMG

    AMG YF Moderator

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    If you need to escape by smashing a window, it should not be laminated. A tempered glass will go into thousand of pieces, but with lamination they will all remain "glued" together. Better though is to have escape hatches.
  6. david_japp, Mar 27, 2011
    #6
    david_japp

    david_japp Senior Member

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    we have an escape hatch at either end of the boat .. In the event we needed to escape in a hurry but couldn't get out through the companionway, I think I'd definitely prefer to take the escape hatch exit routes, rather than spend time smashing a window and then trying to climb out through it . The main point however, is that with toughened glass which isn't laminated, if we did lose a window because someone say accidentally knocked it with a boat hook, or we hit the seawall too hard, we'd have nothing there till we got a replacement window fitted (or fitted a storm board...)
  7. vivariva, Mar 27, 2011
    #7
    vivariva

    vivariva Senior Member

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    There are a couple of applications possible, heat strengthening makes it 2x tougher, the tempering process is 4x more& will shatter to many small pieces on impact, also the re-heating (in the autoclave for the tempering) makes it possible to give shape by a mould.

    Laminated and heat strengthened is the best combination. I second Lars' recommendation, chemical (soft-coatings) are also possible, if you need tint on the windows, without a film or anything, but this will need time for the producer's schedule availability. You will need to contact a producer who allows soft coating in their production facilities, with a laminated glass line dedicated to custom orders.

    If you need an emergency exit, tempering is the best way to go. The glass is 4x tougher, but will allow you to exit.

    P.S. U.K has the world's leading float glass company; Pilkington. Pilkington Optilam is their laminated product.
    Regards,
    VR
  8. david_japp, Mar 27, 2011
    #8
    david_japp

    david_japp Senior Member

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    thanks ..very informative ... in fact we dont need breakable windows for emergency exit